It is a matter of shame that the Government of Odisha has chosen to ignore Government servants’ right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, thereby disregarding the Orissa High Court judgment that was delivered way back on August 2, 1971.  But on the other hand, it is presenting itself as a propagator of the medievalist culture centring round the Jagannath Temple of Puri.

This is opined by Freethought Party of India general secretary B Ramchandra CST Voltaire.

118 years back, France which stands for liberty, equality and fraternity chose to separate religion from politics. The separation has been there since 1905. The framers of the Constitution of India have borrowed the French concept and put the same in the Preamble to the Constitution of India. Now after 73 years of Constitutional Democracy in India, the Government of Odisha has chosen to sabotage the spirit of the Constitution by relying on the theme of the feudalistic caste-based culture. 

The AONO (Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha) scheme is totally against the vital provisions contained in the Constitution of India. The scheme has the word “Nabin”.  How can the Chief Minister have a scheme named after him? It is 100% unethical and inappropriate in a democratic polity, says Voltaire.

 Under the AONO scheme, each panchayat gets Rs 50 lakh for development purposes, including its temple or any religious institutions.

India is a secular, socialist democracy that has put its emphasis on “promotion of scientific temper, love for equality, liberty, fraternity and dignity of individual.” Most of these highly-valued terms are there very much in the “Preamble to the Constitution of India”. 

With such Constitutional mandate and obligation, how can the Government of Odisha ask the rural authorities to work for promotion, preservation and protection of Jagannath culture in the State where many tribes live with their traditional beliefs? 

The Freethought Party of India urges upon the State Government to withdraw the AONO scheme and all the rural people whatever be their cultural background should be given scientific education so that they can appreciate any spectacular scientific achievements of India like the Chandrayaan-3.